Convicted jewel thief seeks new trial

PORT CLINTON - A Mason, Ohio, man convicted last fall of burglary and theft in Port Clinton is set to return to court later this month for a hearing on his request for a new trial.

Corby Chudzinski, 45, was found guilty of theft from a person in a protected class, a second-degree felony, and burglary, a third-degree felony, following a jury trial in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court in August.

According to reports from the Port Clinton Police Department, Chudzinski stole a lifetime collection of jewelry from a city woman in February 2016.

When questioned by Detective Ronald Timmons, Chudzinski denied stealing the jewelry, but did say he went to the woman’s house the day of the crime when the victim was not home.

A witness told police they saw Chudzinski leaving the home with a black bag, the same one the woman told police she stored the jewelry in.

Sentencing has since been delayed for several months with his pending motion requesting a new trial, but if the conviction stands Chudzinski could face up to 11 years in prison,

Chudzinski's defense attorney, Tom DeBacco, who did not previously represent Chudzinski at trial, raised several points that he said warrant a new trial, including irregularity in the proceedings, insufficient evidence to support the verdict, and errors of law.

DeBacco wrote in the motion that several pieces of evidence were not turned over via discovery in a timely manner, such as phone recordings and security footage, and that a continuance was not granted after what he described as “the surprise of new evidence revealed on the day of trial.”

DeBacco also said no jewelry expert testified to the current market value of what allegedly was stolen, but Chudzinski’s guilty verdict of second-degree theft indicates the value to be between $37,500 and $150,000.

In a sworn affidavit handwritten by Chudzinski, he also claimed to have been told by his prior attorney that his case would be won and that he did not even consider a plea offer based on that.

DeBacco argued that the “guarantee” abridged Chudzinski’s right to due process.

A hearing on the motion is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 23 in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court.